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Merchandise evidence: 14 quotes from 5 creators

Every quote, figure and source behind our merchandise guide: 14 quotes from 5 creators, grouped by claim, with the full source list.

Every quote, by claim

Accepted figures: each is backed by the creators quoted under it, verbatim and linked to the moment they said it.

Startup cost: $0–$2,000

“you don't need any inventory or upfront costs to make your journals because Printify, which is a print-on-demand company, will create, package, and deliver your”

— Sandra Di, How to sell your first Canva journal in 72 hours (YouTube, 30 Sep 2026, at 0:35) Disputes this figure.

“You don't pay anything up front. Printify will take a cut from every sale you make.”

— Sandra Di, Make Money Selling Journals Using Canva (YouTube, 26 Aug 2026, at 7:50) Disputes this figure.

“So with less than $2,000, she purchased and built everything she needed in order to create her own screen printing shop and build an online store with Shopify.”

— Side Hustle School, Ep. 3585 - STORY: Artistic Cartographer Maps Out Successful Side Hustle (podcast, 25 Oct 2026, at 6:00)

“It's like kind of an entry level one. I think it was maybe in the $400 range.”

— The Side Hustle Show, 764: 17 Surprising Businesses That Can Make Millions (podcast, 8 Oct 2026, at 27:25)

“Tumbleweed Textiles started small with just $700.00 invested in their first run of T-shirts.”

— Chris Koerner, 028: Making $93k/Month Selling Texas Merch (podcast, 2 Oct 2023, at 1:17)

Single reports, not yet confirmed

What one creator said, before a second independent source backs it. Not used as a fact anywhere on the site.

Startup cost

“Tumbleweed Textiles started small with just $700.00 invested in their first run of T-shirts.”

— Chris Koerner, 028: Making $93k/Month Selling Texas Merch (podcast, 2 Oct 2023, at 1:17). Reported: $700

“you don't need any inventory or upfront costs to make your journals because Printify, which is a print-on-demand company, will create, package, and deliver your”

— Sandra Di, How to sell your first Canva journal in 72 hours (YouTube, 30 Sep 2026, at 0:35). Reported: $0

“You don't pay anything up front. Printify will take a cut from every sale you make.”

— Sandra Di, Make Money Selling Journals Using Canva (YouTube, 26 Aug 2026, at 7:50). Reported: $0

Typical hours per week

“I would allocate about 10 to 15 minutes, seven days a week, no matter what, without fail.”

— Side Hustle School, Ep. 3568 - TBT: Physician Designs Plush Toys to Teach Anatomy (podcast, 8 Oct 2026, at 6:15). Reported: 1–2 hours/week

Common pitfalls

“I think a lot of new um POD sellers think that it's the number that's actually going to get you more sales and it's not. It's the design.”

— Hannah Gardner, 5 Etsy Best Selling T-shirt Designs with Juna & Jay (Redesigned Failing Listings) (YouTube, 27 Aug 2026, at 50:23). Reported: uploading many near-identical listings expecting volume to bring sales

“So, it's never a great idea to just copy what's already there. You have to add some value than what's already out there.”

— Hannah Gardner, 5 Etsy Best Selling T-shirt Designs with Juna & Jay (Redesigned Failing Listings) (YouTube, 27 Aug 2026, at 10:52). Reported: copying designs already saturated in the market

“if you could actually successfully sell a hundred shirts even at a $ Z margin then you feel a lot better buying $200,000 worth of shirts”

— Chris Koerner, My 3 Favorite Business Ideas this Week (YouTube, 28 Dec 2024, at 14:59). Reported: Buying large amounts of apparel inventory before proving it can sell

Equipment

“Much of that initial startup cost went to supplies, but $500 of it was used to create a vacuum printing press.”

— Side Hustle School, Ep. 3585 - STORY: Artistic Cartographer Maps Out Successful Side Hustle (podcast, 25 Oct 2026, at 6:09). Reported: screen printing supplies, vacuum printing press, screen print frame, drying rack

Scalability

“our business has actually grown 450% since then. And we are on track to do seven figures this year.”

— Side Hustle School, Ep. 3575 - TBT: The 7-Figure Dachshund Apparel Business (podcast, 15 Oct 2026, at 4:37). Reported: high

All sources

All data

FactValueSource
Startup cost$0–$2,000Sandra Di, Sep 2026; Sandra Di, Aug 2026; Side Hustle School, Oct 2026; The Side Hustle Show, Oct 2026; Chris Koerner, Oct 2023